Monday, December 21, 2009

Words I'd Like To Outlaw

Sometimes I wish I could outlaw the use of certain words in the Church. These words are the ones that you can tell by the way people use them, the people either do not know the meaning of the word, or they chose to give the word a meaning totally opposite its original definition. By the misuse of these words, the words either come to mean nothing, or they are twisted into a perversion of what they once where.
This change is not always deliberate. Most of the time it happens because people don't know the original meaning, or they don't think about the meaning when they use the word.

The two words I would most like to outlaw are "gospel" and "ministry."

You may be thinking the Gospel is the very core of the Christian message, so why would I want to outlaw it? I don't want to outlaw the Gospel itself, just the way I hear people use the word "gospel."

Remember, the word "gospel" comes from two Old English words that mean "good news." The Christian message of salvation from sin, guilt, condemnation, poverty, sickness, and death through Jesus Christ is indeed good news!
But how many times do you hear a "gospel" preacher proclaim a message you would call good news? Some spend their time focused on negative things and condemning people for their shortcomings and failures. When they do finally say something positive, they add on so many preconditions and requirements their message becomes one of bondage.
Too many think their message is gospel just because it sounds spiritual. You can often tell these people by their uptight expressions and voices. They don't say the word "gospel" like it is something positive and exciting. They often pronounce it as "Gaaawss-pullll." You can hear the religion dripping from their voices as they speak.

Because of this, I am training myself to use the words "Good News" when I speak of the Gospel. Doing this will help remind me of what the Gospel really is, and how to recognize a fake one when one comes along.